FT. WAYNE, Ind.– The Ohio State men’s soccer team fell, 3-2, against No. 12 Marquette in its final exhibition match at the Shindigz National Soccer Festival at the Ft. Wayne Soccer Club Complex. The Buckeyes held a 2-1 advantage at halftime, but the Golden Eagles were able to tally two unanswered goals in the final 45 minutes to come away with the exhibition win.

The match was the team’s final tune up before opening the 2014 regular season as hosts to the ninth-annual Wolstein Soccer Classic Aug. 29-31 in Columbus. For tournament info, click here.

Offensively, freshman midfielder Hunter Robertson had a goal and an assist, while senior midfielder Max Moller also found the back of the net for the Scarlet and Gray. Junior midfielder Kyle Culbertson posted an assist on Robertson’s goal. Defensively, senior Alex Ivanov played the first half and boasted two saves, while classmate Andrian McAdams played the final period with two stops of his own.

More than four inches of rain fell in the south part of Ft. Wayne the night before the match, making field conditions a bit challenging for both squads. After the first 20 minutes of play did not see a shot in the box score, the scoring arrived in a hurry.

Marquette got on the board first in the 24th minute when David Selvaggi sent a bicycle kick off a deflection from a far corner into the back of the net for the unassisted score. However, the Buckeyes rebounded quickly with back-to-back scores within a five-minute span.

After a Marquette foul, Culbertson sent a 20-yard free kick to the near post and Robertson was ready. The native of Westerville, Ohio, Robertson made solid contact and volleyed a shot off the MU keeper’s hand to make it 1-1 in the 26th minute. Moller, from Tulsa, Okla., then scored after just getting into the match as a substitution. The OSU senior was fed an overhead pass by Robertson from the near side and dribbled into the box before blasting a left-footed shot inside the near post for the Buckeyes’ second goal. At half, shots were 5-2 in favor of Marquette, while the Golden Eagles held a 2-1 lead in corners.

Following halftime, the Golden Eagles tied the contest, 2-2, during the 70th minute following a header from the far post off a MU corner. Marquette was awarded seven second-half corner vs. the Buckeyes. The Golden Eagles scored the eventual gamewinner when Selvaggi sent in a sliding goal in front of net after receiving a cross from the far midfield during the 76th minute of play. Freshman Marcus McCrary had a shot on goal, but was stopped the MU keeper, while sophomore Henry Chancy had the team’s final chance but his attempt on a corner just went over the crossbar as time expired. Overall, 20 Buckeyes saw action vs. the Golden Eagles, including five newcomers.